Bush: People Might Not Like The President, But They Like America

President Bush, rarely one to acknowledge his slump in the polls, said that a president's low ratings won't erase warm feelings toward the United States.

Bush made his remark in response to a question in a Slovenian television interview over rising anti-Americanism in Europe and throughout the world.

"This is what I tell people," he said. "First of all, you can't make decisions based upon opinion polls. Secondly, that a lot of people like America. They may not sometimes necessarily like the president, but they like America. They like what America stands for."

He noted that many people still want to come to the United States.

"I dismiss [anti-American sentiment] as kind of like what happens when there's kind of gossip and rumors and -- because the truth of the matter is, America, just like many nations in Europe, stands for what's right, which is decency, and freedom of speech, and freedom to worship," he said. "And I'm very proud of my country, obviously."

Bush also said that the United States' relations with India have improved and that its ties to other countries remain strong.

"We stand for liberty and human rights and freedom," he said. "Look, I've had to make some tough decisions that some people didn't like. But the truth of the matter is, when you really look at -- like, for example, our relations in the Far East, we got great relations with Japan, China and Korea -- South Korea."

Earlier, the Briefing Room noted that Bush said in his Slovenian TV interview that the current presidential race reminded him of his first White House bid, when he also ran on a message of "change."